Sock or stocking supporter



April 9, 1946. G. w HARLAN 2,398,093

SOCK OR STOCKING SUPPORTER Filed April 22, 1944 Patented Apr. 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOCK OR STOCKING SUPPORTER George W. Harlan, Cooper County, Mo.

Application April 22, 1944, Serial No. 532,243

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in sock or stocking supporters.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a novel sock or stocking supporter which eliminates the usual rubber band for embracing the leg, and which substitutes therefor a nonelastic band combined with novel means by which a metal spring normally exerts a tension holding the non-elastic band firmly and without slipping, yet yieldingly, in its proper place on the leg.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a sock or stocking supporter, of the kind described, which is simple, cheap to make, strong, durable, not likely to get out of order, and which is efiicient in its operation.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved supporter shown mounted in operative position supporting a sock or stocking on a leg.

Fig. 2 is an outside elevation, partly broken away, of the supporter, showing the non-elastic band straightened out with its detachable end released from the casing, the parts being shown in their positions, when the spring is retracted.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the base of the casing, the hose engaging means, and the spring in the retracted position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side edge elevation, partly broken away, of the supporter; the leg embracing band and its fasteners being omitted.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

I designates a band for encircling the leg 2, which band may consist of any non-elastic material, such as suitable cloth or leather.

For connecting to the ends of the band I and for supporting a sock'or stocking 3 on the leg, the following parts are employed.

4 designates broadly a base of a casing having a cover 5 which embraces the outer sides of two opposite spaced apart arcuate edge portions 6 of the base 4. The base 4 has between the portions 6, two diametrically opposite projections I extending laterally.

Means for releasably attaching the right end portion, as viewed in Fig. 1 to the casing comprise a loop fastener 8 having a hook 9 adapted to be releasably inserted through a hole III in the outer side of the cover 5, and an adjacent hole II in the periphery of the cover, Figs. 1 to 4.

On the said end portion of the band I is provided a buckle I2, by means of which the band may be changed as to usable length.

The outer side of the cover 5 has in it a slot I3 which extends from a point in diametrical alinement with the place, the hole III, of the attachment of the band I by the fastener S, to near the center of the cover 5 and thence downwardly to the right, obliquely at one side of the diameter, Figs. 1 and 2, to near the periphery of the cover.

The other end of the band I is attached to the loop of a fastener I4 having a right angled bend I5 which extends through and is adapted for travel in the slot I3.

In the casing is provided resilient means which normally resists movement of the fastener I4 and the adjacent end of the band I toward the end of the slot I3 distant from the hole Ill.

Such resilient means, as shown in the drawing, comprise a leaf spring I6, Figs. 3 and 4, having a coiled portion encircling a pin I! having one end fastened in the base 4 and provided with a slot in which is rigidly fastened one end of the spring. The other end of the spring has a coil I8 encircling one arm of the right angled U bend of the fastener I4, Figs. 1 to 4. Said pin I1 is disposed at the side of the diameter toward which said slot I3 obliquely angles, whereby said angularly formed slot is particularly adapted for use with said coiled spring.

The tension of the spring I6 is such as to normally force the fastener I4 to the position shown in Fig. 2, and to resist the movement of the fastener I4 and the adjacent end of the band I to the position shown in Fig. 1.

Means for releasably supporting the sock or stocking 3, consists of a piece of flexible material, such as cloth or leather I9 fastened as by rivets 20 to the inner side of the flat portion of the base 4. Fastened to the depending lower portion of the material I9 by a rivet 2I are the upper ends of two downwardly extending tabs 22 having respectively the usual headed button 23 and slot 24 to receive the button, for releasably attaching to the sock or stocking 3.

In operation, the parts being in the released position, shown in Fig. 2, the casing cover is held in one hand, the other hand grasps the free end portion of the band I and the band is passed around the leg, thus pulling the band against the tension of the spring IE to cause the fastener I4 to move to the position shown in Fig. 1, at which time the hook 9 of the fastener 8 is inserted through the hole III, and the hole I I, thus holding the band I firmly in operative position on the leg. The tabs 22 are then fastened in the usual manner to the sock or stocking 3, as shown in Fig. 1.

The spring l5, which may be of suitable metal, as steel or brass, unlike rubber bands, retains indefinitely substantially its original strength and elasticity, so that the band I will always be held from slipping from its proper position on the leg, the band being of proper wearable material, as webbing or cloth.

By adjustment of the buckle l2, the length of the band I may be made adaptable for different circumferences, and for different tensions of the spring desired.

Many modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

In a sock or stocking supporter, a band adapted to embrace the leg, a casing comprising a base, adapted to be at one side of and next the leg,

and a cover at the outer side of and having fixed attachment to said base, means for releasably attaching one end of said band to said casing at a place adjacent to the periphery of said casing,. said cover having a slot extending from a point diametrically opposite toward said place for a distance and then at an oblique angle to one side of the diameter, a pin in said casing at said side of the diameter, a coiled spring in said casing encircling and having one end attached to said pin, means extending through and adapted for travel in said slot and attached to the other end of said band and to the other end of said spring, means fastening said pin to said casing in a position such that the tension of said spring will resist movement of said other end 01' said band in a direction from said place to said point, and means attached to said casing for releasable attachment thereto of a sock 01' stocking on the leg.

GEORGE W. HARLAN. 

